Wagon-rod



(No Model.)

D. W. JOHNSON.

WAGON ROD.

No. 541,094. Patented'June 18, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC DAVID W. JOHNSON, OF KEARNEY, NEBRASKA.

WAGON-ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 541,094, dated June 18, 1895.

Application filed July 9,1892; Serial No. 439,553. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID W. JOHNSON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Kearney, in the county of Buflalo and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wagon-Rods, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to an improvement in Wagon rods and the object of my improvement is to provide for fastening the rod in the wagon box by means of a latch fastener on the side of the box and groove in end of rod instead of the old screw and nut.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a detached detail of my improved wagon-rod. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view thereof. Fig.3 shows a detail end view disclosing the arrangement of the spring-catch. Fig. 4 shows the groove within the wagonrod, while Figs. 5 and 6 show enlarged detail views of the spring-catchas used in my device.

My invention comprises, essentially, a metallic bar, A, of any suitable size and material, which is secured to the wagon body by any suitable means. In Fig. 1 I have shown a block, L, in section, which is adapted to be secured to the side of the wagon, and which primarily aids in holding this rod, A, in position, the rod, it being. understood, passing through the wagon side either at the end or center. At one end I provide this rod, A, with an eye or loop and at the remaining end with a groove, B. 7

Secured to the block, L, is a spring catch, 0, preferably of metal, having a collar opening, D, adapted to fit the gro0ve,'B, of the wagon rod. This spring catch is secured to the block, L, by means of a bolt, J, so that it is loosely and pivotally secured. Upon the side this spring catch isprovided with an extending housing, E, secured by means of the rivets, K, which housing is adapted to contain the spring actuated jaw, .F, having its lower surface curved and provided at the rearwith a stem over which the spring, M, is adapted to work. Extending through an opening of this housing, E, is the operating handle, G. To insert the wagon rod it is simply necessary to throw back theoperating handle or thumb piece, G, which carries back the spring actuated jaw, F, so that the rod can be instantly and readily inserted, it being, of course, necessary to carry the spring catch upward to carry the catch out of the groove, B.

It will be noticed that the spring catch is gravity actuating, in that it is freely pivoted at one end and is then finally locked upon the bar by means of the spring actuated jaw, F. The device is noticeable because of its extreme'simplicity, and,

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by UnitedStates Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a wagon rod, said wagon rod being provided with an annular groove, of a gravity actuating catch secured adjoining said rod, said catch being adapted:

to work over the groove within said wagon rod; a housing secured to said catch; a spring jaw within said housing; said spring-jaw being adapted to work in conjunction with said catch to engage within the annular groove of said rod, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y

2. The combination, with a wagon rod, A, having the collar, B, of the pivoted catch, 0, provided with the opening, D, the housing, E, the spring jaw, F, working in conjunction with the spring, M, said catch and jaw being adapted to engage the collar, B, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

DAVID W. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

J. J. WHITTIER, E. M. CUNNINGHAM. 

